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Author Archives: simplebykate

Alright people, who doesn’t dream of being royalty? A princess…a queen…a monarch of any sort. Oh, how we all wish.

I used to have a sick obsession with royalty, particularly with the Royal Family of Monaco. I mean let’s be serious…there is no crown more glamourous than that of Monaco.

Okay, so Charlotte Casiraghi might not have been given the official Her Royal Highness Princess title and yada yada at birth, but that only makes her cooler in my mind. And what can top the fact that she is Grace Kelly’s granddaughter? When I think of effortless, simple beauty its Charlotte who comes to mind (Kate Middleton who?).

Because I love fresh faced girls with fierce eyebrows who have no shame smoking a cigarette and chugging a glass of champagne while wearing Dior couture, I have to dedicate this post to Princess Charlotte. She is beautiful, she is cool, effortlessly chic and her look is always on point.

This is a pretty collective haul of all the lovely things I’ve picked up over the last couple of weeks. On a side note, I have been far too obsessed with Instagram and PicFrame lately, so some of the items here are not true to their colors, but its more fun this way. Sorry, I guess, I’m not sorry…and excuse the mirror pics…I don’t mean to be one of those girls. Hopefully you are all too distracted by my super adorable phone case from J.Crew to even care!

It dawned on me last week that I have neglected this wonderful palette since I bought the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette, and that made me so sad! I had to make things right and I’ve been using it daily now.

I love, LOVE (LOVE) shimmery eyeshadow for anytime of day. Some people might disagree with me, but I always think that a glowing eyelid base that is muted by matte colors in the crease and outer corner is the way to go. This palette is great because its organized by looks. Being me, I totally disregard that and just pull from all angles.

What I use in my every day look:Heaven (highlight)Silk Teddy (lid)
Push Up (crease and outer corner)
Sexspresso (outer corner and top and bottom liner)

Fancy Favorite #2 – My ThesaurusBecause of the abundant amount of emails and letters I have been sending to reach out to people I have met on my job hunt, I’ve been using this a lot more than in the past. My mother purchased this for me not too long ago, and I used it throughout college (let’s be serious, Word’s thesaurus is severely limited). Now I cannot be without it! Want to know how much of a dork I am? I spent this morning flipping through it while eating my breakfast. You can never know too many words, especially when you are a scrabble nut like me. I think every person should have a hard copy thesaurus. I am on the hunt for a children’s one to get for my niece, though I think I have some time since she just celebrated her 1st birthday a month ago. But you can never start too early…

Fancy Favorite #3 – The Face Shop Dewy Flower Moisturizing TonerI have been using this product for about two months now and my skin has never been happier! I actually picked this up in Jordan this summer and did not expect to love it so much, so I was happy to see that The Face Shop has numerous locations in the States, including in NYC! My skin tends to be more dry than oily, and I use this after every time I wash my face or take a shower. My face, I have to say, has been much more hydrated, softer and more dewy looking since I got my hands on this toner!

I also picked up a bunch of other products from The Face Shop which I will be reviewing in the future. So far so good, but I like to use products on a regular basis before judging them on an open forum.

Fancy Favorite #4 – House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst Pendant NecklaceI saw this necklace at Nordstrom a few months ago and fell in love with it! I could never bring myself to buy it for me, but I have been eying it on shopbop for a while. My loving and adorable boyfriend got it for me a few weeks ago and I find it difficult to take off! The chain is so soft and delicate, and the pendant is out of this world. The center is actual leather and the pendant is gold-plated. You can wear this any time, with a T-shirt or a dress. It definitely is one of my favorite pieces!

Fancy Favorite #5 – Kusmi Tea

Now maybe this should just be a plain old boring tea favorite, but I have to give a huge shout of to Kusmi Tea! They must have opened when I was in Jordan, but last week I stumbled upon their store on 3rd avenue in NYC and spent way too much time (and money!) there. I have been on a tea kick lately, and this place has tons of fragrant, delicious ones to choose from! Also, how adorable is their branding? Have any of you heard of them before? Am I late on this? I know they are an international brand, but it looks like you can order all of their blends online which is great. Also they have adorable tea hardware…strainers, tea pots, cups, etc. This store is definitely going to be on my list to hit up for the holiday season for friends and family!

The art of knowing when to spend versus when to spurge comes with years of practice. Have I mastered it? Not in the least. Am I getting there? Sort of. I mean, I certainly won’t ever drop $200 on a pair of Rock & Republic jeans again. Clearly, I have made great strides since high school.

I might opt for cheaper jeans because I am cheap at heart but the truth is I have rich blood. Like any girl I dream of a 700 square foot walk in closet where my Loubs are on display on their own shelf and my Chanel has its own cabinet. I’m constantly on Pinterest putting lists together in my head and setting deadlines. Chanel riding boots by 25, Birkin by 34. I might not be making moves at the moment, seeing as I am unemployed and writing from my room at my parents’ house but I want to have my priorities straight for when I have the cash.

Check out my current list of things I would happily consider selling my first born for at the moment.

Go ahead and say whatever you want about the Kardashian family. Call them selfish, shameless, self-promoting [insert plural expletive here]. Details aside, if I could go ahead and use one word to describe these long-locked girls, it’s this: brilliant.

They are marketing moguls. In this downward economy, it’s hard to imagine that the Kardashian Empire can grow even bigger than it already is. But that’s not the case. Soon their clothing line will be in the UK, and before you know it they will launch a makeup line. These business-savvy women do not mess around when it comes to their brand, and I have nothing but the upmost respect for that kind of attitude. Get it girls.

The point of this post was not to ramble on and start a discussion on the Kardashian klan, but to showcase this little lady in my first Love that Look post. In my opinion, when it comes to pulling together a fab and flawless look, none of the other dash dolls can compete with my girl Kourt. Her choices of clothing and accessories are always up to par, and each piece seems to work perfectly with the next. Kourtney’s style is a mix of feminine and masculine, but I have to admit I love her in some flirty menswear! Can we also mention how adorable she dresses while pregnant? What a hot mama. A huge congrats to her on the arrival of her little baby girl! I can’t wait to see little Penelope all decked out in her stylish baby wardrobe.

Don’t be fooled by the products you’ll see in this post. I am a cheap girl at heart. The truth is, the best place to look for the right products to maintain healthy hair is just around the corner in the drugstore. When you are looking for a new product, I always recommend walking up and down the aisles at Duane Reade or CVS before looking at Sephora or Ulta. The truth is, most of the more expensive products I use I didn’t pay full price for. Some I found on sale, and others I purchased using my employee discount when I was working in a salon. Salons are a great place to test out high-end products before opening up your wallet. Talk to your stylist who might be able to give you a sample to take home.

I am not saying that all salon quality shampoos, conditioners or styling products work better than what you find at CVS. Some might and some might not. That totally depends on your own hair. What works for me might not work for you.

I am always interested in reading any product posts, because it’s where I get inspiration to try something new! My hair tends to be on the drier, thicker side, so I tend to look for heavier products that my hair will really absorb and eat up. Obviously those are the types of products that won’t work on someone with thinner hair. The good news is, a lot of companies, drugstore or salon, have different lines for all different types of hair.

Here are the products I currently use to keep my locks healthy, happy and looking lovely.

Shampoo- Brilliant Brunette by John Frieda

I’m really not that picky when it comes to shampoo. I have found very few that I don’t actually like, so normally when I am running low I rush to the drugstore and grab anything. I do use Brilliant Brunette frequently because it does make my hair clean, shiny, and on top of that, it smells great. But if I don’t happen to find it at the store, I’ll grab something like Pantene Pro V, which works just as well.

Conditioner – Aussie’s Three Minute Miracle Deeeeep Conditioner

If there is one product I can’t live without, it’s this one. I told you all that my hair is on the dryer side, and I like heavy products. This one is perfect for me. It’s highly concentrated and creamy and rich and all things wonderful. Technically this is a “deeeeep” conditioner, but for me it’s just normal conditioner. I usually wash my hair every 2 days, so by using just a little of this product on the ends of my hair I am all set (more on how to properly wash your hair in a future post!).

Treatment – Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque

This product I had been keeping my eye on for a while, but I just never found myself in the mood to shell out $36 for a product I’ve never tried before. That’s why when I found on sale at Target for 2-for-1 my hair cried tears of joy.

This product is certainly wonderful, and you can use it in a variety of ways. I like to use mine as more of a treatment than a normal conditioner, which I know some people like to do. I try to use it once a week, but sometimes I skip out on it. When I do use it, I paint it on my ends, throw my hair in a clip and leave it on for an hour or more. When I rinse my hair is like silk, and I can feel the difference even after the next full wash.

So if you are interested in trying this product out, check Target. Maybe you can even split the cost and product with a friend or sister to save a little more money. You can also find sample packages of it at CVS for about $6. I was even annoyed with that prize to be honest, but it’s always an option. Another option is the Macadamia Oil Mask by Organix, which retails for less than $10. I do like their Moroccan Oil Mask, so I’ll probably purchase the macadamia one to give it a try as soon as I am done with this pot.

Shiny Leave-In #1 – Kerastase’s Oleo-Relax Serum

This serum is an absolute necessity for me in the summer time, and I really think I will end up repurchasing this at full retail price when it runs out. It’s not too heavy, but boy does it do an unbelievable job at keeping my hair as frizz free as possible! I typically just use this when I am letting my hair dry naturally. Believe me when I say this, I would look more like I stuck my finger in an outlet if I didn’t use this when rocking my natural hair. All I do is take one pump, start applying it to my ends and working up. I comb through it and voila: frizz free and super shiny hair.

Shiny Leave-in #2 – Organix’s Moroccan Argan Oil Spray

Oils can be annoying to apply, no matter if your hair is wet or dry. That’s why I was so excited when I stumbled upon this at the drugstore! I am a fan of heavier products (see all above), but this spray really takes the cake even though it is a lot lighter. Typically I just switch up between this and the Kerastase serum I use, though I tend to lean more on the latter in the summer time because I need a little extra help in my ongoing battle against humidity. If you have thick and dry hair like me that can be a little dull without a dab of something sparkly, I recommend this. The spray bottle makes it super easy to work with, and my hair always comes out soft and shiny no matter if I use it when it when its wet or dry as a finishing spray.

Heat Protectant #1 – Kerastase’s Nectar Thermique

Here is another pricy yet amazing product. We all know how important heat protectants are for our hair. I try and try and try to use less heat on my locks, but I’m addicted to my blow dryer. I reserve this protectant for when I blow dry as opposed to when I pick up my curling iron. What I love most about this product is that it’s a treatment and protectant all in one! The heat helps activate the product, and I swear you can tell its working even when you are blow drying. Take my word here: when it comes to Kerastase products, a little goes a long ass way. I try to use no more than a dime size amount and that is more than enough.

Heat Protectant #2 – Tresume Heat Defense Spray

In terms of heat application, I blow dry or use a curling iron. Under no circumstances will I ever flat-iron my hair again. Those days will remain in my high school memories when my hair was fried beyond belief and damaged beyond repair. Anyway, it is important to use a heat protectant no matter if your hair is wet or dry. If you get out of the shower and apply this, then blow dry and then pick up a curling iron you need to spray again! Don’t forget that. If you use this product, you don’t have to worry about your hair becoming too greasy or oily, provided you spray it correctly and try to keep it away from your roots. When I curl my hair, I always let it dry natural before I start. I don’t need to double down on the heat. I also find that my hair holds the curls better when it dries naturally as opposed to being tortured under my blow dryer. This product not only smells great, but it protects my hair and leaves it shiny. What else can a girl as for? Oh, and it’s cheap, so I guess there always is more.

Healthy hair is an accessory no girl should go without. Embrace what you have, learn to love it and figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. Maybe it will be the $60 deep conditioner, or maybe it will be the $8 one. If you are into the more expensive stuff, try to find deals on Amazon or Target. Or stick to the cheap stuff. It’s your call because it is your hair. Take care of it while you have it so you can rock it while you still got it!

It seems that every day I discover a new (or old!) thing I become OBSESSED with. A book, a lip balm, a long lost earring. Fancy Favorites will be the most common posts on this blog, as my ultimate goal is just to share the sweet things in life with my readers. So, let’s get into it…

Fancy Favorite #1 – The statement necklace

Nothing says, “hello, world! Here I am!” quite better than bold and slightly outlandish jewelry. I prefer to keep things simple with my outfit and accessorize it up to get things interesting. Necklaces and bracelets are my usual outlets for that. Earrings have taken the backseat at this point, though I feel at times my collection of busy chandeliers are calling my name.

Without a doubt, my favorite piece of fun jewelry these days is my J. Crew Bubble Necklace that was given to me as a graduation gift by my sister Jen. The truth is I never would have thought to drape my neck with 10 pounds of yellow beading before it, but now I’m certain I’ll never downsize.

After realizing that having the same necklace appear in nearly all of my Facebook photos is only so acceptable these days, I decided to purchase another. But boy when I realized the cash I’d have to shell out I changed my mind.

J.Crew’s version of this necklace has definitely set this trend, but you can look elsewhere for replicas or other bauble style necklaces. Etsy is a great start, or you can turn to Ebay where you will find a million and one Chinese replicas for an average of $15. I just placed an order next week for a blue one. We’ll see how it compares to the original which is 10x its price.

Fancy Favorite #2 – Essie’s ‘Wicked’

Let’s be serious for a second. I know its summer and we should all be jumping on the bubbly-pink and coral-craze bandwagon, but there is only so much of it I can take. Remember a few years ago when Wicked was all the rage, no matter the season? Ah, the good old days.

I have to take a second and thank Lauren Conrad (and Netflix’s streaming of ‘The Hills) for this. So late night in bed I like to snuggle up with my iPad and watch horrible reality TV. A month ago, my bedtime was reserved for The Hills (you can judge me, I would) and seeing LC sport this fab color on her nails along with her sick California tan made me long for it. Thank god it’s still available. I could not stand to paint my nails Tart Deco one more time…

Fancy Favorite #3 – Sam Edelman’s ‘Gigi’

Now, this is true love. Without a doubt, the Gigi sandal is my absolute favorite warm weather shoe. I have been a hardcore Gigi-wearer for the past 2 years and they will never get old for me. I purchase most of mine at Lord & Taylor or on Endless. There’s something about their sleek and clean style that just gets me going. Not to mention that the color selection is out of control! Just so you all know I’m serious, check out my (growing- since I realized I now plan on getting the ones above) collection:

Fancy Favorite #4- Million Dollar Listing

Though I am a native New Yorker, I’m much more into Million Dollar Listing LA, and secretly I’m yearning to move to the ‘Bu. These guys just kill me. I’ve come to the conclusion that if I were to be any Jewish gay man, I’d certainly be Josh Flagg.

As a lover of all things Bravo, Million Dollar Listing certainly tops my list of things to watch throughout the week. Must have to do with my love for all things overly expensive, sunshine and witty guys who ask their grandmothers for advice.

Fancy Favorite #5- Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

My thoughts on face makeup will appear later (and again and again and again)…but I have to give this product a huge shout out. I wear the medium, though I will probably drop down a level when my tan fades into the fall. This product really gives great coverage and makes my skin look flawless. I never leave the house without it on, even if it is the only makeup I wear that day. Now, I was originally planning on shelling out $40 for the Smashbox BB Cream, but I am so happy I stumbled upon this at my local drugstore. Nothing makes me happier then finding awesome drugstore products! I mean a fab finish for $10? You can’t beat that.